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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Ames, Iowa » National Animal Disease Center » Virus and Prion Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #149678
Title: SURVEY FOR SELECTED VIRAL DISEASES IN FERAL SWINE FROM SOUTH CAROLINA

Author
item Richt, Juergen
item Stoffregen, William
item Lager, Kelly
item WEBBY, RICHARD - ST. JUDE CHILDREN'S RESEA

Submitted to: Diseases at the Interface between Domestic Livestock and Wildlife Species
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/17/2003
Publication Date: 7/17/2003
Citation: RICHT, J., STOFFREGEN, W.C., LAGER, K.M., WEBBY, R.J. SURVEY FOR SELECTED VIRAL DISEASES IN FERAL SWINE FROM SOUTH CAROLINA. DISEASES AT THE INTERFACE BETWEEN DOMESTIC LIVESTOCK AND WILDLIFE SPECIES. 2003. Abstract No. 16.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Blood samples were collected in the winter months of 2002 and 2003 from 180 feral swine (Sus scrofa) on a 7,100 ha peninsula between the Atlantic Ocean and Winyah Bay in Georgetown, South Carolina. Sera samples were tested for the presence of the following swine pathogens: swine influenza virus (SIV), porcine respiratory and reproductive syndrome virus (PRRSV), porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV 2) and pseudorabies virus (PRV). Both serological methods for the detection of viral antibodies as well as molecular methods for the detection of viral nucleic acids were applied. Hemagglutination inhibition (HI) titers of >1:160 specific for the H1 subtype of SIV were detected in 12% of the animals. No reaction was seen with swine H3 and avian H4, H5, H6, H7, H8, H9, H10, H11, H12, H13 subtypes in the HI test. Two animals (1%) were seropositive for PRRSV by a commercial ELISA kit, whereas no samples were positive for the presence of PRRSV specific RNA in an in house real time RT PCR assay. Similarly, no sample was positive for PCV 2 specific DNA using an in house real time PCR technique. Analysis for the presence of PRV specific neutralizing antibodies revealed that 11% of the animals contained PRV specific neutralizing antibodies (titers >1:2). These results indicate, that feral pigs must be considered a reservoir for agents of significance to the U.S. swine industry.